The Battle of Kikyo Castle (Part One)

"Well, it's nothing really. Geniuses are born every moment in this world, but not every genius can become a powerful ninja. On the path of a ninja, to become a powerful ninja, you must first find your own Ninja Way, which is the foundation for your growth and becoming stronger. Then, you must find what you need to protect, which could be family, love, friendship, etc..." Issui said slowly, looking at Rin who was staring at him with expectant eyes.

"The Ninja Way? Protection?" Lin asked, puzzled.

"Yes, being a ninja is a belief that allows a ninja to survive in this bloody world. Protection is the source of a ninja's greatest strength. With these two things, you will become incredibly powerful..." Issui said calmly.

"Hmm... I don't quite understand, but I'll remember it. Although I don't understand the meaning of things like Ninja Way and protection, I feel that having them might really make me very powerful..." Rin only frowned slightly before her expression immediately relaxed; in her heart, no worries could remain...

"Hehe... I'm full. You guys can continue eating here. I'm going out for a walk..." Issui poured all the ramen in his bowl into his mouth and finished it. Now he just wanted to find a quiet place to rest and enjoy the leisurely afternoon.

"Ah... Brother Tuoye, won't you go back to the camp with us?" Lin asked doubtfully.

"No, I just want to find a quiet place to stay for a while. I've already paid for the meal, you guys continue eating, don't worry about me..." Issui stood up, shook his head, and walked straight out of the noodle shop. As soon as he stepped out of the noodle shop, he used a Body Flicker Technique to disappear.

On a lush green hillside, a leisurely boy lay with a blade of grass between his teeth, his hands folded behind his head, his eyes gazing aimlessly at the blue sky, his pure silver pupils untainted by any impurity, serene...

"What are you thinking about? Why aren't you preparing for battle with everyone? I've already heard about you from Jiraiya -sensei. Although I don't have the right to ask you to do anything, I still sincerely hope that you can fight for Konoha..." Minato quietly Earth Flow to Issui and sat down on the grass, speaking softly.

"Oh, it's you... Actually, I think humans are very insignificant compared to this world. You might be able to influence the world, but you can never change it. The world of ninjas is a corridor of struggle and slaughter, and no one can avoid it. Perhaps I can help Konoha defeat Sunagakure, but that's not what I expect. If I were to take action, many Sunagakure ninjas would inevitably die at my hands. Their comrades and families would surely hate me. Although I'm not afraid of their threats of revenge, I would be forced into Uzumaki of hatred."

I've seen through this cruel ninja world too clearly. After losing my loved ones, I've gradually come to understand that instead of being trapped in this endless ninja world, I should try to change it, completely reform the rules of the ninja world, and create a ninja world of mutual understanding, trust, and no hatred...

"I've been striving on this path, waiting for that opportunity to come..." Issui said slowly.

There are actually two reasons why Issui didn't want to participate in the Battle of Kikyo Castle. One is that he was afraid of disrupting the historical plot and causing time and space to become disordered, which would be tragic for him. The other reason is that he was already tired of the fighting and killing in the ninja world. Even if he took action to eliminate some ninjas who were not as strong as himself, wouldn't that just add a touch of cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness to his image for no reason? That was not what he wanted to see.

"Ah... your idea is truly... grand. Although I also yearn for the new ninja world you described, right now I must first live as a Konoha ninja. I have a village and comrades to protect. Your ideal is very noble, and I also sincerely hope that such a ninja world can be born. So, it's a promise. When I become Hokage, I will definitely help you fulfill this dream..." Minato sighed, but a smile remained on his face. Although he hadn't persuaded Issui, he didn't mind. After learning of Issui's thoughts, Minato wholeheartedly agreed with Issui's ideal, because it was also his ideal.

"Hmm... I think we'll become friends..." Issui faint smile.

"Friends? Maybe, yes, those who share the same ideals are friends..." Minato said with a smile.

"Is that so? You should go back to camp. You don't need to keep an idle person like me company. Sunagakure will probably make their move in the next day or two. You are a pillar of Konoha, so you must have a lot of troubles..." Issui directly dismissed him. He came here to enjoy his leisurely afternoon, and being disturbed was not a good thing.

"Ah... haha, then I'll get back to work. You can continue relaxing here, sigh..." Minato shook his head with a smile. Really, he's trying to get rid of me. Did I say too much?

The border of the Land of Wind.

"It's begun..." Chiyo said calmly, gazing at the sky, her eyes glistening. Ah, the war between ninjas has begun again. Perhaps she's already numb to it all.

"Yes, the war will begin tomorrow. Perhaps this is not so bad. It will make all the stubborn people who still believe that the Third Hokage is alive give up their obsession. Although I don't think Sunagakure can win this war, it will still be meaningful even if they fail. No matter how strong a village is, it cannot grow normally without its Kage. The village has not had Kazekage to take charge for a long time. The root cause of this war lies here..." Ebizo said with a sigh.

"Yes, although what you're saying sounds discouraging, it's true. The village should have a Shadow. Recently, I've found a suitable candidate..." Chiyo said.

"You mean that person..." Ebizo said suddenly.

"Hmm, let him lead the team this time and show his skills, to prepare for the next Kazekage. That kid is incredibly brave, resourceful, and strong, and his reputation in the village is growing. He should officially become the Fourth Kazekage soon..."

"Yes, my sister and I think the same thing..."

"Looks like that little guy is really good; he's satisfied with both of us..."

"Yes, I hope that Sunagakure will become even stronger under his leadership..."

Hongman Earth Flow. She had been greatly shocked today. In order to verify whether Issui had really fought against the legendary Sannin, she asked many ninjas, but the final result was the same: the event was real, and Issui had indeed beaten the Sannin to a pulp.

Then Kurenai looked at the massive iceberg Kikyo Castle. She couldn't take it anymore. If Kakashi was a genius of their age group, then what was Issui? Even more talented than a genius? But even a genius couldn't defeat the Sannin at just over ten years old? And what was she, Kurenai Yuhi? A fool? An idiot? But she was clearly relatively outstanding among her peers...

Perhaps it truly was fate. Hongman, wandering aimlessly, somehow ended up on the hillside where Issui was. Before she knew it, she was beside Issui. Seeing Issui lying on the ground, she felt a surge of anger. He was so lazy, yet he defeated the Sannin? She herself had trained diligently every day to barely reach Chunin; she was no match for him at all...

"Hi... we meet again. You're Hong, right? Taking a walk here too..." Issui was a little puzzled. Did he have some kind of luminous substance about him? Why were people coming to this quiet place one after another? First it was Minato, and now it's Hong? Had the luminous spot on his body become so bright that it was impossible to ignore?

"Hmph... no way..." Hong blushed slightly, taking a closer look at Issui. He was actually quite handsome. What girl doesn't dream of love? Although Hong was displeased with Issui, she secretly admired heroes. Issui was exactly the ideal prince charming for someone her age...

"Huh?!" Issui's heads were sweating slightly. Was the little girl angry?

"I... I was just wandering around... Can I lie down here too?" Hong asked softly.

"Sure, go ahead. This isn't just for me. Anyone can come here. If it were a grown man, I might actually kick him out, but you're a beautiful woman, aren't you? Beautiful women always have special privileges..." Issui said with a smile.

"..." Hong blushed deeply at Issui's words and could only lie down on the grass next to Issui in silence.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Issui asked.

"No... no... I just didn't want to talk about it..." Hong's feelings at this moment were indescribable; her heart was pounding like a deer's. What girl doesn't dream of love...?

"Oh, then enjoy it. This is the best place to relax..." Issui turned her head and continued looking at the azure sky. It's so beautiful...

"Hmm..." Hong nodded, mimicking Issui's expression as she looked at the sky, but she couldn't concentrate on the beautiful sky at all. Her mind went blank; all she could think about was Issui. She thought, "This must be what liking someone, being in love..."

"By the way, I wanted to ask you something, do you know about the Eight Colors of Konoha?" Issui suddenly wanted to inquire about the Eight Colors, after all, those heroic figures were very exciting.

"Eight Colors? What Eight Colors? I don't know anything about them..." Kurenai was puzzled. Where in Konoha would there be any Eight Colors?

"No?" Issui was a little confused. Could it be that Konoha didn't actually have any Eight Colors or anything like that? That's possible, since there was no such thing as the Eight Colors of Konoha of Konoha in the original work. The Eight Colors of Konoha were just characters made up by adults.

"No, if there were anything I wanted to say, I would know..." Hong said calmly. He wouldn't be trying to strike up a conversation with me, so he's just making things up to talk about him, would he?

"Hmm, I was wrong..." Issui was slightly disappointed. What Eight Colors? They didn't even exist. She was hoping to spar with them, but they weren't there at all. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Oh well, never mind. After the battle at Kannabi Bridge ends and she secretly rescues Rin, she'll return to the future. Anyway, she won't participate in the battle. She'd rather spend that time playing with the little loli; that's more worthwhile...